Concentration Mechanism of Fluorine, Arsenic, and Uranium in Groundwater of the Hailar Basin, China

Located in semi-arid regions of Hulun Buir League in China Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hailar Basin is a region with less precipitation, where groundwater is the most important source for water supply. It is very important to study groundwater characteristics and hydrogeochemical processes for better management of the groundwater resource.The current status of fluorine (F), arsenic (As), and uranium (U) co-contamination exists in groundwater of the Hailar Basin, China. To understand the concentration mechanism of F, As, and U in groundwater in the study area, groundwater samples were collected for detection and analysis. The results showed that the main hydrochemical types were Cl-Na, HCO3-Na, and HCO3-Ca in the study area. The average values of F, As, and U were 3.94 mg/L, 0.04 mg/L, and 0.07 mg/L, respectively, which all exceeded the World Health Organization(WHO) guidelines. Through the Gibbs diagram and the end member diagram, it can be seen that the groundwater in the study area is mainly affected by the hydrogeochemical effects of evaporative crystallization, rock weathering mechanism, and the dissolution of silicate rock and evaporative salt rock minerals. Mineral dissolution, cation exchange, and weakly alkaline environment are important factors affecting F concentration; Low NO3ˉ and SO42- will cause a reducing environment and the competitive adsorption of HCO3ˉ will promote As pollution; The concentration of Ca2+,Mg2+, SO42-,and NO3ˉ have a great influence on the concentration of U.

The Importance of Border Checkpoints of Goods of Inner Mongolia for the Development of Cross-Border Relations of Peoples Republic of China

The article considers the system of operating border checkpoints of a large region in the north of China - the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The author emphasizes the growing importance of the Manchuria and Erlian land checkpoints, through which not only the whole variety of goods of Russian-Chinese and Chinese-Mongolian trade passes, but also international transit is provided. The remaining checkpoints, on the contrary, acquire a narrow specialization or have local significance for border territories. The development of border checkpoints, such as Sehe, Ganzmod and Mandal, is associated exclusively with the development of mineral deposits in the south of Mongolia and their subsequent export to China. In the context of a pandemic, the countries are forced to strengthen the barrier function of borders by tightening quarantine measures, which affects directly the operation of border checkpoints. The information provided on the border points of Inner Mongolia can become the basis for analyzing China’s opportunities to develop trade cooperation across the borders of Inner Mongolia.

The Prevalence and Determinants of Fusidic Acid Resistance Among Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates in China

The significant increase in resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to fusidic acid (FA) is a worrying public concern. However, the data on the prevalence of FA-resistant MRSA isolates in China is still limited. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of FA resistance and resistance determinants among MRSA isolates from six tertiary hospitals in different regions of China between 2016 and 2020. The antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA isolates was performed by disk diffusion test and broth microdilution method. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted to evaluate the determinants of FA resistance and molecular characterization of FA-resistant MRSA isolates. In this study, a total of 74 (74/457, 16.2%) isolates were identified to be FA-resistant among 457 non-duplicate MRSA isolates. The prevalence of 74 FA-resistant isolates was as follows: Hubei (28/70, 40%), Shanghai (18/84, 21.4%), Jiangxi (7/58, 12.1%), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (6/38, 15.8%), Guangdong (12/112, 10.7%), and Sichuan (3/95, 3.2%). The mutations in fusA were present in 79.7% (59/74) of FA-resistant MRSA isolates, with 54 (54/74, 73%) having L461K mutation and conferring high-level resistance [Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)>128 μg/ml]. Acquired gene, fusB, with low-level resistance (MIC <16 μg/ml) was found in 20.3% (15/74) FA-resistant MRSA isolates. ST5-MRSA-II-t2460 was the most prevalence clone with high-level resistance, accounting for 51.4% (38/74), which was distributed in Hubei (24/28, 85.7%), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (4/6, 66.7%), Shanghai (7/18, 38.9%), and Guangdong (3/12, 25%). ST630-t4549 MRSA isolates with low-level resistance were the most common in Jiangxi (3/7, 42.9%) and Sichuan (2/3, 66.7%). In brief, the prevalence of FA resistance among MRSA isolates in China was relatively high with geographic differences. High-level FA resistance was associated mostly with fusA mutations, especially the L461K mutation, whereas fusB usually conferred the low-level resistance to FA. The spread of ST5-MRSA-II-t2460 clone with high-level resistance to FA contributed greatly to the increase of FA-resistant MRSA isolates in most regions, especially in Hubei.

A new species of Galerina (Hymenogastraceae, Agaricales) from northeast China

Galerina variibasidia, a new species in the Hymenogastraceae, was discovered in Arxan, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This species is presented with morphological description, illustrations, and supported by phylogenetic analyses using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses with the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences.

Factors Associated With Diagnostic Delays in Human Brucellosis in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

The diagnostic delays pose a huge challenge to human brucellosis (HB), which increases the risk of chronicity and complications with a heavy disease burden. This study aimed to quantify and identify the associated factors in the diagnostic delays to its prevention, reduction, and elimination. This study analyzed risk factors associated with the diagnostic delays in a cross-sectional study with data collected from Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. Diagnostic delays were defined with a cutoff of 30, 60, and 90 days. In different delay groups, risk factors of diagnostic delays were analyzed by univariate analysis and modeled by multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 14,506 cases were collected between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2017, of which the median diagnostic delays was 29 days [interquartile range (IQR): 14–54 days]. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the older age category was associated with longer diagnostic delays across all groups. Longer diagnostic delays increase with age among three delay groups (p for trend <0.001). Occupation as herdsman was associated with shorter diagnostic delays in group 1 with 30 days [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.890 (95% CI 0.804–0.986)]. Diagnostic delays was shorter in patients with brucellosis who were reported in CDC in all delay groups [aOR 0.738 (95% CI 0.690–0.790), 0.539 (95% CI 0.497–0.586), and 0.559 (95% CI 0.504–0.621)]. Pastoral/agricultural area was associated with shorter diagnostic delays in group 1 with 30 days [aOR, 0.889 (95%CI 0.831–0.951)] and group 3 with 90 days [aOR, 0.806 (95%CI 0.727–0.893)]. Stratified analysis showed that the older age category was associated with an increased risk of a long delay in both genders (p < 0.05). The older age group-to-youth group OR increased along with increased delay time (p for trend <0.001). Furthermore, the pastoral/agricultural area was associated with a shorter delay in males (p < 0.05). Delays exist in the diagnosis of HB. We should pay great attention to the risk factors of diagnostic delays, such as older population, non-herdsman, non-pastoral/agricultural area, non-disease prevention, and control agencies. Effective measures should shorten the diagnostic delays, achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, and reduce the risk of HB's chronicity, complications, and economic burden.

Regional trade and economic cooperation along the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor

We analysed the characteristics of foreign trade for the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor’ regions. We also examined the commodity and geographic structure of exports and imports of the Economic Corridor regions: the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Mongolia, and the Baikal region of Russia. A large share of Russian and Mongolian exports is made up of raw materials, such as minerals, metals and their low value-added products. Products of the chemical industry, ferrous metals and their products prevail in the commodity structure of the export of Inner Mongolia. The priority in cooperation of these regions is to upgrade transport and cross-border infrastructure to increase transit potential in freight transportation along the planned China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. Through the Economic Corridor project, these regions can significantly strengthen foreign economic cooperation.

Characteristics of Agricultural Droughts and Spatial Stratified Heterogeneity and Dependence of Dominant Factors in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Droughts have significantly damaged the environment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. In this study, the region was divided into two subregions. Soil moisture was used as the basic parameter to analyze the characteristics of agricultural droughts. Based on a geographical detector, the spatial stratified heterogeneity in different seasons was discussed. Moreover, the copula joint functions of characteristics and dominant factors of agricultural droughts were constructed. Based on the Soil Moisture Anomaly Percentage Index (SMAPI), the results demonstrate that the climate tendency rate of droughts in the summer and in spring in Subregion I shows an increasing trend, while it decreases in the autumn and winter. In Subregion II, the climate tendency rate of droughts in different seasons has no significant change. Through geographical detection, the single factor detection illustrates that temperature and Precipitation Conversion Efficiency (PCE) show the highest explanatory power in different subregions. The interactive detection also demonstrates the explanatory powers of the combination of the PCE and temperature, respectively. The t-copula function describes the correlation coefficients of the SMAPI with the PCE and temperature, with the optimal tail dependence. In short, agricultural droughts are most significantly affected by temperature and the PCE, and their balance has a significant impact on agricultural droughts.

Description and revised diagnosis of Asia’s first recorded pachycephalosaurid, Sinocephale bexelli gen. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China

The first recorded pachycephalosaurid dinosaur from outside of North America, “Troodon” bexelli, was described from the Upper Cretaceous of Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia) Autonomous Region, China, in 1953 based on a partial parietal dome. The holotype, and only, specimen has not been redescribed or figured since the original description and is currently considered lost. As a result, researchers have generally considered this taxon a nomen dubium. Here, we identify and describe two high-fidelity plaster casts of the holotype and assign them as plastotypes for this taxon. Examining these replicas allows for an updated comparative description and complete systematic revision of this enigmatic taxon and its inclusion within a phylogenetic analysis for the first time. The material is distinct from all other pachycephalosaur material and can be diagnosed by a single autapomorphy (a wide and deeply embayed posterior parietal margin) and a unique combination of characters, including lack of primary nodes on the parietal and a highly arched, fully roofed temporal chamber. A new genus, Sinocephale gen. nov. is established to receive this species as Sinocephale bexelli. Sinocephale bexelli is phylogenetically removed from Stegoceras (formerly “Troodon”), to which it was previously affiliated, and recovered as a pachycephalosaurine pachycephalosaurid.

Phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Coniochaeta isolates recovered from Inner Mongolia and Yunnan revealed three new endolichenic fungal species

Lichens are the result of a symbiotic interaction between fungi (mycobionts) and algae (phycobionts). Aside from mycobionts, lichen thalli can also contain non-lichenised fungal species, such as lichenicolous and endolichenic fungi. For this study, three surveys were conducted in China’s Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region between 2017 and 2020. Several samples of four lichen species were collected during these surveys: Candelaria fibrosa, Flavoparmelia caperata, Flavopunctelia flaventior and Ramalina sinensis. Six isolates of Coniochaeta were recovered from these four lichen species. The phylogenetic and morphological analyses revealed that two of these isolates were previously identified species, Coniochaeta velutinosa and C. acaciae. Those remaining were from potentially unknown species. We used molecular and morphological data to describe these previously-unknown species as Coniochaeta fibrosaesp. nov., C. mongoliaesp. nov. and C. sinensissp. nov. The findings of this study significantly improve our understanding of the variety and habitat preferences of Coniochaeta in China and globally.